PKSPL IPB University Facilitates Conservation Cooperation in TWP Gili Balu, West Sumbawa

The Centre for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies (PKSPL) IPB University played a role in facilitating the birth of a partnership agreement in the development of tourism and conservation activities in the Gili Balu Marine Tourism Park (TWP), West Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara in a sustainable manner.

The cooperation was marked by the signing of a partnership agreement between the Regional Public Service Agency (BLUD) of the Technical Implementation Unit of the Agency for Marine Resources and Fisheries Management (BPSDKP) Sumbawa-West Sumbawa Region as the manager of the Gili Balu Marine Tourism Park (TWP) with the local village community represented by the Poto Tano Village Tourism Management Group, West Sumbawa Regency.

The signing of this partnership was represented by Hamdon as Chairman of BLUD-UPTD BPSDKP Sumbawa-Sumbawa Barat Region, together with the Chairman of the Poto Tano Village Tourism Management Group, Rudini. This partnership cooperation is valid for the next five years.

Since February 2024, PKSPL IPB University has placed two of its field staff in West Sumbawa Regency to provide intensive assistance and communication to all interested parties directly involved in the management of TWP Gili Balu waters.

This is a form of PKSPL IPB University’s technical support in the Transformasea programme: Development of Ecosystem-Based Integrated Ecotourism (Marine Tourism) in TWP Gili Balu initiated by PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMNT) and the Marine and Fisheries Office of West Nusa Tenggara Province.

This partnership agreement is expected to be the first step in strengthening the institutional management of the TWP Gili Balu area. This is because the BLUD UPTD BPSDKP Sumbawa-Sumbawa Barat Region since its establishment at the end of 2023 has never had a partnership agreement with the local community, especially tourism actors around TWP Gili Balu.

“Thank you to PKSPL IPB University for facilitating this partnership as a form of joint commitment of both parties related to the development of BLUD UPTD BPSDKP Sumbawa-Sumbawa Barat Region which is a very new institution,” said Hamdon.

He also hopes that with this agreement, the management of the TWP Gili Balu area can run smoothly and benefit both parties, and have a positive impact on the ecology of the Gili Balu area as a conservation area.

The same hope was also conveyed by Rudini. He said that through this cooperation, tourism management in TWP Gili Balu, which has been carried out independently by the community, can be synergised with the BLUD UPTD BPSDKP Sumbawa-West Sumbawa Region.

“Hopefully this cooperation will also be able to accelerate the development of tourism and a sustainable economy for the people around the TWP Gili Balu area, especially the people of Poto Tano Village,” he added.

Deputy of Natural Resources and Environmental Management of PKSPL IPB University, Andy Afandi, on a separate occasion said that tripartite cooperation between business entities carried out by PT AMNT, the government through BLUD UPTD BPSDKP and the community can encourage more effective regional governance, and provide long-term benefits for the community and the environment.

“Furthermore, this effort is also expected to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDGs 13, SDGs 14, SDGs 15 and SDGs 17,” he concluded. (da/ec/yp/Rz). (IAAS/Ard)